Tag Archives: holiday gift

Minor Terry started crocheting at the age of five in a friend’s basement. From that time, she could make a square or scarf for anyone who needed it. When YouTube become more prevalent, she was able to watch videos on repeat to figure out how people were holding their hands, and her projects became more intricate, personal, and detailed. Today, she crochets just about everything from fuzzy stuffed animals and stroller blankets to coffee cozies and ear warmers. Her hobby has turned into a small businesses, Crooked Mountain Crafts, and has given her the opportunity to reach more clients with her work. She crochets wherever she goes, and often has more than one project in a bag by her side.

“I can crochet and walk, and I’ve definitely been that person to pull it out at the bar during trivia night,” she laughs. “Anytime we are hanging out with friends, they know I’m going to have a crocheting project.”

Like many knitters and crocheters, Minor has several projects “on the needles” at any given moment. Although this may seem like a large commitment, the reaction a person has when they receive something she has created makes the entire process worthwhile.

“I sent my sister a blanket, and I asked if she could film one of her friends opening it since I wouldn’t be there to see it. One of my favorite memories is her joy as she unfolded it,” she explains.

In addition to projects of her own choosing, Minor does a lot of custom creations. She’s crocheted blankets with specific colors, patterns, and even sports logos. Recently, a Mets blanket proved to be her most detailed design yet.

“It’s a single stitch, so every single stitch had to be counted and done. I think that was my most challenging piece, but that isn’t to say it wasn’t fun. Once you get into the rhythm of it, it goes pretty quickly,” she says.

Her clients are not limited to purchasing crocheted pieces. Minor’s boyfriend is an arborist, and he has designed copper trees that are available on her Etsy shop and at her craft shows. People use them for Christmas trees, jewelry trees, money trees, and talk pieces. With so many choices available, Crooked Mountain Crafts is a great place to find fun, personalized gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

Minor spends her evenings stitching and making everything she sells, so you know your purchase is made with love and not mass produced. If you still need a gift for someone on your list (or yourself!), be sure to check out her work. You can find Crooked Mountain Crafts at the Kazim Shrine Holiday Arts, Crafts & Vendor Show on December 9 from 10am-2pm, or at www.etsy.com/shop/CrookedMtnCraft.

Mindfulness is “the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to experiences happening in the present moment.” In a world filled with so much hustle and bustle, a world where we believe in cramming as much as possible into our schedules, it seems almost impossible to be mindful. Time is precious, and we seem to want to plan it down to the very last second. But with all our busy schedules, is there any time left to enjoy life in the present moment? Can we truly be mindful?

Irene Smit and Astrid Van der Hulst, two authors who have taken notice of this problem, have sat down and created a book to do something about it. Beginning their career as editors at Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, they are now the cofounders and creative directors of Flow magazine, a popular international publication filled with paper goodies and beautiful illustrations that celebrate creativity, imperfection, and positivity. Smit and Van der Hulst, have invented a Flow book that adds a little more stillness, downtime, and thought to your life. An unhurried adventure in creative mindfulness, A Book That Takes Its Time inspires you to do just that…take your time. Smit and Van der Hulst’s new book is all about taking time to breathe, time to learn, time to create, time to reflect, time to let go, and time to be kind. With each page encouraging you to linger and engage with each topic, this book is truly one where you will take your time. Filled with postcards, stickers, decorative papers, and hands-on activities like crafts, prompts, and journals, your work will result in cherished keepsakes.

A Book That Takes Its Time is the epitome of slowing down and living life in the now. In hopes that their book will lessen your worries and help you feel more at peace, Smit and Van der Hulst encourage you to find satisfaction through mindfulness. The only request that Smit and Van der Hulst have for their readers is that they take their time flipping through the pages and enjoying all this creative piece of mindfulness has to offer.

BKing Designs was born from photos taken by Australian artist, Bridgit King, and her daughter, Katie. Although they live miles apart, the mother and daughter have been able to share their experiences through unique photos that show their individual interpretations of the world around them.

One of our favorites, Graffiti, was captured in New York City. The photographer describes, “An exquisite piece I came upon in the backstreets of West Village – she struck me with her beauty. Her tranquility, a virtual impossibility in the Big Apple. Her creator unknown to me, making her even more enthralling – a simple and humble icon.”

BKing Designs offers a wide variety of pillows– each one with a unique photo. Browse through their entire collection and choose a gift that the recipient will remember for years to come.

Visit our Facebook page for a chance to win one of your own!

Pick up the November issue of Bella while you still can! There are many more great gift ideas in our Holiday Gift Guide!

Does your father have a favorite picture of you two together on Facebook? Maybe your best friend needs an updated photo of the two of you? Or, perhaps you want to give your mom a framed photo of herself and her mother as a memorable holiday gift?

The Sworl app allows you to shop for everyone on your list without a lot of effort. Download the app here and begin uploading your favorite photos. You choose the color and size of the frame for your photo. They print, frame, and gift wrap it! You can even have them delivered to the recipient’s home.

We love this framed photo of a young man on kayaking adventure in Seattle, WA. A priceless gift, it was sent to his mother as a reminder of their special day. Something simple– yet it will be treasured for years to come.

Take the fuss out of printing and framing your own photos and let the professionals handle it this year. Visit www.getsworl.com for more information on how to get started.

The Raw Food Deck: A Simple Guide to Raw Food, its Benefits and its Techniques, by French Raw Food chef, Emilie McBride, brings you to the increasingly popular world of Raw food cuisine. This easy guide will teach you about Raw Food basics, benefits and the reasons it is considered one of, if not the healthiest diet choices. It will also lead you through this new, exciting adventure what Raw Food cuisine and eating is, with a handful of tips, do’s and dont’s, and resources! The fundamentals are all here, in this simple deck, from the equipment you need to the different techniques and essential pantry items. Thirty-one easy starter, fundamental recipes accompany this guide and will give you enough inspiration to become your own Raw Food chef!

The Raw Food Beginner’s Deck would make a great Christmas gift for the chef OR aspiring chef in your family. For more information, visit www.deckopedia.com. Pick up our November issue for more great Holiday Gift ideas.